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I don't see the Steelers handing anyone a job and signing Starks would push Adams & Gilbert. It would be an open competition. Maybe I am looking at it the wrong way. Maybe Starks doesn't think he could hold them off and will serve as a back-up.

I don't see the Steelers handing anyone a job and signing Starks would push Adams & Gilbert. It would be an open competition. Maybe I am looking at it the wrong way. Maybe Starks doesn't think he could hold them off and will serve as a back-up.

Perhaps Starks does not want an open competition and wants to be paid as a starter?

Perhaps Starks does not want an open competition and wants to be paid as a starter?

Well if he wants to be handed a starting job and handed starting money he could go elsewhere. Loyalty only goes so far. Starks has been pretty solid for the Steelers but when the guys hit the field the gap will not exist anymore. I would love to have him here but I personally feel Gilbert & Adams will pass him on the depth chart even if he is here. By saying "passing him" I mean by their play. If he is ok with that and willing to dress game days as the swing tackle....I will be the first to slide over and make room for him on this ride.

Free agent Max Starks projects as the Chargers' starting left tackle if he is to join the team. — AP

Max Starks is out of town but not out of mind.

The free agent left tackle had what people familiar with the situation have described as a positive Wednesday visit with the Chargers. Although no deal had been reached as of Friday morning, Starks is still considered in the mix for San Diego.

In 2012, the 31-year-old started all 16 games at left tackle for the Steelers.

He projects as the Chargers' starting left tackle if he was to join the team.

King Dunlap, 27, is the top option on the current roster. Added competition would be nothing to irk Dunlap, a source close to the veteran said this week, as the former Eagle was not promised anything upon signing a two-year contract in March.

Regardless of what may occur with Starks, the Chargers figure to have more experience at left tackle this year than last. Michael Harris, as an undrafted rookie, and Kevin Haslam combined for 12 left-tackle starts in 2012. They previously had four offensive snaps of NFL regular-season experience between them.

Both remain on the roster after taking a combined 896 reps at left and right tackle in 2012.

Starks spent the first nine seasons of his career in Pittsburgh, starting 96 of the 123 games in which he was active.

why do the steelers hate max so bad. there's no durability on the line outside of max and foster and i think the later is playing out of position. at the end of the day, we still have a makeshift line with 4 RTs (Adams, Gilby, Foster, and Beachum), 1 G in DD, and 1 C/G in Pouncey. No matter what you do with the remaining pieces, it's gonna take time for this line because everything is in flux and most guys are gonna end up out of their natural positions.

why do the steelers hate max so bad. there's no durability on the line outside of max and foster and i think the later is playing out of position. at the end of the day, we still have a makeshift line with 4 RTs (Adams, Gilby, Foster, and Beachum), 1 G in DD, and 1 C/G in Pouncey. No matter what you do with the remaining pieces, it's gonna take time for this line because everything is in flux and most guys are gonna end up out of their natural positions.

+1...Currently we have unproven young players and a free agent that gave up the most sacks in the league last year. I dont want to hear that Starks cant move fast enough to run block in the new scheme. The Steelers will not be successful without Big Ben and right now I am not very confident that the OL can protect him enough to last the entire season...

We have huge question marks at the most important position on the OL....

I am hoping that Adams gets it together this year and fast. I dont even want to think about Gilbert playing the LT position....If he gets rag-dolled again this year and hurts another Steeler player he should be on the bench permanently.

If we resigned Starks, he would still be the best LT on the team....

Hopefully the young guys can get it done...if not, it will be another long and painful season.

I find it funny that the complaints about Max are that he is not a good enough run blocker. That applies to most LTs because that is not their focus and not the reason that they are the highest paid players on the line. I am not willing to give up a little bit of pass blocking ability in order to get much more run blocking. LT generally plays across from the team's best pass rusher, not their best run stuffer. There is a reason for that.